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Religious Education of Lifelong Learning in Taiwan Weixin Shengjiao I Ching University

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Religious Education of Lifelong Learning in Taiwan Weixin Shengjiao I Ching University Journal of Education & Social Policy Vol. 6, No. 2, June 2019 doi:10.30845/jesp.v6n2p8 Religious Education of Lifelong Learning in Taiwan Weixin Shengjiao I Ching University Li-Yueh Chen, PhD Weixin Shengjiao College Chen-Mei Li, PhD Weixin Shengjiao College No.667, Ln. 705, Wenhua Rd., Nantou City Nantou County 540, Taiwan Abstract From the mid of the 1980s to 1990s, the political and economic environment have been found an important change in Taiwan. Therefore, an embryonic form of new religion named Weixin Shengjiao was found in 1983. In 1994, The President of Republic of China Mr. Lee Teng-Hui declared the educational policy to address the importance of lifelong education. The founder of Weixin Shengjiao, Grand master Huan Yuan responded to UNESCO and the national educational policy for lifelong learning. In 1994, I Ching University was established as a pioneer of lifelong education in Taiwan. However, declining birthrate and population aging have impacted the education industry in Taiwan. This study uses the case study method and resource based view theory to find out the competitive advantages of I Ching University and explores how it offers an ideal religious education of lifelong learning to fulfill the vision of world peace. Keywords: Religion education, Lifelong learning, I-Ching, Feng-Shui 1. Introduction In the mid-1980s to the 1990s in Taiwan, there has been a critical change in the political and economic environment. In 1991, the President of the Republic of China, Mr. Lee Teng-hui, declared the abolition of the “Temporary Provisions Effective during the Period of Communist Rebellion”. This makes Taiwan‟s politics more democratic. In 1996, the first direct Presidential election was held; in 2000, political party alternation took place for the first time. In the 1980s and 1990s, Taiwan actively promoted economic liberalization and developed technology-intensive and information industries. Meanwhile, Taiwan strived to become Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center and the professional operations center for manufacturing, transportation and professional service. As a result, Taiwan‟s economy has gradually entered a mature stage. In the field of education, the Executive Yuan Education Reform Review Committee proposed “Education Reform: General Counsel Report” on October 2, 1996 suggesting increasing university enrollment capacity, founding high schools and universities extensively, and promoting multiple entrance program to ease the pressure to advanced study. Under the pace of democratization, the government is becoming more open in religious and educational policies and allows people to create new religions and set up new universities as long as good social customs are not violated. Therefore, under this circumstance, the embryonic form of a new religion came into being in 1983. Later, the religion was named “Weixin Shengjiao” as it was well-developed. In 1994, President Lee Teng-hui made a clear policy statement on “lifelong education”: “The idea of lifelong education is to confirm that everyone has his need for education in every stage of life and aims to establish a learning society”. Therefore, the founder of Weixin Shengjiao, Grand Master Hunyuan suggested that everyone deserve a basic right of learning. In the same year, I Ching University was founded and began to offer lifelong learning to carry forward Chinese culture and to advocate I Ching learning. In the history of education in R.O.C., I Ching University is a pioneer promoting lifelong learning with its founding purpose of cultivating talents, revitalizing people‟s morals, refining ambitions, and creating universal harmony. However, declining birthrate and population aging have impacted the education industry. The leaders and managers at all levels of educational institutes, from kindergarten to university and the national education authorities are all concerned about this issue and search for solutions. I Ching University mainly offers non-degreed lifelong education but is affected as well. However, even facing the changes and challenges in the educational environment, I Ching University can still break through adversity and develop into such a large-scale institute. It must have its competitive advantages. 62 ISSN 2375-0782 (Print) 2375-0790 (Online) © Center for Promoting Ideas, USA www.jespnet.com This study uses the case study method and resource based view theory to find out the competitive advantages of I Ching University and explores how it offers an ideal religious education of lifelong learning to fulfill the vision of world peace. 2. Literature review 2.1 Resource based view Wernerfelt (1984) first proposed a shift in analyzing organizations from a focus of product-market to that of a resource position. He defined a resource to be “anything which could be thought of as a strength or weakness of a given firm” (p.172). Resource based view (RBV) is useful in determining whether a firm‟s strategy will create value and also enables the organization to conceive and implement strategies for improving efficiency and effectiveness (Barney, 1991). RBV focuses on the access or development of idiosyncratic resources and competencies that lead to competitive advantage which sustains over the long term. (Barney, 1991). Resources are classified as tangible (including financial and physical resources), intangible (including reputation, technology, and organizational resources), or personnel-based (including culture, training, commitment, loyalty and knowledge) (Grant, 1991). However, the researches on resource have been focused more specially on “strategic resources” (Amit & Schoemaker, 1993). Strategic resources are those resources that (1) have value, such that they can leveraged to increase customer value or cut costs; (2) are rare, such that competitors do not have access to the same or a very similar resource to compete away the value; and (3) are difficult to substitute and (or) imitate, which allows the organization to stay ahead of competitors (Barney, 1991). 2.2. Religious education What is so-called religious education? As to the word “religion”, Grand Master Hunyuan states that “religion, not relating to gods nor spirits, not mysterious, is the development of each person‟s spirituality and wisdom. It is compassionate and inspires everyone‟s inner heart. The world will become peaceful when people are enlightened and realize that their hearts are the manifestation of gods and buddhas. The world will be peaceful because people respect each other.”Grand Master Hunyuan claims that “Heaven and earth establishes (Zhong), sages set doctrines (Jiao) and all are generated, namely “religion” (Zhong Jiao). We educate in line with sages‟ enlightened experience and doctrines”. Moreover, Grand Master Hunyuan instructed what so-called “education” is by a couplet posted Weixin Shengjiao Hsien Fo Temple, “a celestial being nets a basket; heart is the king of pure land of Buddha”. He thinks “education” is magnanimous and realizes all phenomena. We must respect and value all beings as sages, teach them in accordance with their aptitude and help them fulfill their achievement and behave with great dignity. We also need to teach all beings to perceive each moment in the future till reaching enlightenment. Grand Master Hunyuan pointed out that “a celestial being nets a basket” means inviting all walks of life to contribute their wisdom to the society. Meanwhile, “heart is the king of pure land of Buddha” implies that pure land of Buddha is a palace of wisdom. Weixin Shengjiao is an open-minded platform for cultivating talents. Therefore, Grand Master Hunyuan proposed that the aim of I Ching University supported by Weixin Shengjiao is to raise and cultivate talented people. Grand Master Hunyuan states that Xian (賢) means the great inner wisdom embedded in everyone‟s heart. The idea of “raise and cultivate talented people” is to respect everyone in the world, cultivate them and treat them as sages. It does not matter if they are princes, military or political leaders, tradesmen or porters. Therefore, for the purposes of carrying forward dharma and benefiting all beings, we should accumulate wisdom and strive to cultivate, support and retain talents. 3. The Religious Education and Competitive Advantage of I Ching University This study used the case study method and resource based view theory to study how I Ching University offers an ideal lifelong learning of religious education to fulfill the vision of world peace and finally find out its competitive advantages. This study found that the core of religious education offered by I Ching University lies in five kinds of education: (1) moral education, (2) life education, (3) environmental education, (4) filial piety education and (5) culture education. The philosophy of Liji, Liyun Datong (Book of Rites, Chapter of Great Harmony) is the core value of these five kinds of education. In 2007 Grand Master Hunyuan began to interpret Liji, Liyun Datong (Book of Rites, Chapter of Great Harmony) in a meditative way. He pointed out that Liji, Liyun Datong (Book of Rites, Chapter of Great Harmony) is Confucius‟ supreme heart method of ruling country, family and career. It is also a heart method for our inner uneasiness and dissatisfaction. Confucius realized the greatness of Liyun Datong (Chapter of Great Harmony); that is why it has been passed down to the present. Then, the Father of Republic of China, Mr. Chung Shan Sun promoted to the whole world. “Liji, Liyun Datong is a heaven way, a method of pacifying human mind, which is a truth derived from ancient sages‟ experience of enlightenment. It is an excellent classic for us to practice, to found a nation, and to fulfill world peace. It brings hopes to Chinese descendants in the future. Liji, Liyun Datong is great wisdom which points out the direction for governing a nation, and the method to manage our mind, family, career, society and nation. If everyone can understand Liyun Datong, I believe that the world will be peaceful.” 63 Journal of Education & Social Policy Vol. 6, No. 2, June 2019 doi:10.30845/jesp.v6n2p8 “Modern life and social phenomena are both inseparable from the word li (etiquette)”.
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